Superintendent: Cooper Family
- Sheep Check-in & Weigh-in: Wednesday, July 29, 6–7 p.m. (Currency Pavilion – North of the Sheep & Meat Goat Stalling Area)
- All sheep must be in stalls by: Wednesday, July 29, 8 p.m. (Currency Pavilion)
- Show: Thursday, July 30, 1 p.m. (Currency Pavilion – Arena, West Side)
Open to 4-H & FFA members. An exhibitor may show no more than 6 breeding or market animals. No individual sheep are shown in both breeding and market classes.
Sheep lambed after Jan. 1, 2026 are classified as lambs. Sheep lambed between Jan. 1 and December 31 of 2025 are classified as yearlings. Sheep born in 2024 or earlier are classified as aged. For the Dorset breed, ewes born after September 1, 2024 can be shown as breeding ewe lambs. Fall-born Dorset yearlings may also be shown as yearlings.
No re-weigh allowed. Exhibitors having 2 lambs in the same class may move 1 lamb up to the next heavier class.
All sheep must be tagged with a USDA scrapie tag (for more info, call 1-866-USDA-TAG).
Registration papers must be in exhibitor or family farm name. Registration papers are checked to verify registered animals. Registered animals show in registered classes only. Nonregistered animals or animals without registration papers show in commercial classes only.
All animals must be stalled in the barn. No ice packs.
Market classes are divided by weight across all breeds.
Grand Champion and Reserve Champion market lamb are selected from the top 2 individuals in each market lamb weight division.
See Grooming of Livestock Rules on Animal Exhibits.
See Herdsmanship details.
Market lambs are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to be shorn before arrival.
- Special Awards to Top Market, Breeding and Showmanship
SHOWMANSHIP
All exhibitors, including previous award winners, are eligible to participate in their respective age division. No advance entry required. Exhibitors must prepare and show their own animals. Showmen are divided into classes by age by Jan. 1 of the current year. An exhibitor may win Senior Showmanship as many times as they are eligible, regardless of past winnings.
- Premiums: Purple $4; Blue $3; Red $2; White $0
G030001 Junior Sheep Showmanship — 8–10 years of age
G030002 Intermediate Sheep Showmanship — 11–13 years of age
G030003 Senior Sheep Showmanship — 14–18 years of age
BREEDING CLASSES
Original registration papers must be presented at check-in to be eligible for breed specific classes (may be presented electronically using a smart phone, tablet, etc.). Non-registered ewes will be placed in commercial ewe classes and divided by weight. The top animal from each class will compete for Supreme Champion Ewe.
- Premiums: Purple $5; Blue $4; Red $3; White $0
Lamb
Dorset G032111
Hampshire G032121
Suffolk G032131
Other Breeds (reg) G032141
Commercial G032151
Yearling
Dorset G032112
Hampshire G032122
Suffolk G032132
Other Breeds (reg) G032142
Commercial G032152
Aged Ewe
Dorset G032113
Hampshire G032123
Suffolk G032133
Other Breeds (reg) G032143
Commercial G032153
MARKET CLASSES
- Premiums: Purple $5; Blue $4; Red $3; White $0
G030020 Market Lamb
- White Face (Speckles, Southdown, Dorset, any other white influenced breed)
- Black Face (any black face breed)
- Rate of Gain — Entries are taken at the fair. Placings are determined by average daily gain (ADG). ADG is calculated by using weight gained since the initial weight taken in May and the actual weight at check-in.
- Lancaster County Born and Raised Market Lambs — limit of 1 entry per exhibitor. These must be bred and raised by the exhibitor, family member or a breeder in Lancaster County. Please indicate born and raised animals when submitting animal entries online, although entries can be made at check-in time.
PEN OF THREE
A group of 3 market lambs or breeding ewes with ownership by 1 exhibitor only. Completed entry cards for this class may be turned in at the show ring gate.
- Premiums: Purple $3; Blue $2; Red $1; White $0
G030011 Pen of Three